BARRINGTON — The Barrington Conservation Commission and Natural Heritage Committee invite you to join us on the next “Get to Know Barrington’s Trails” hike, which will be on the Samuel A. Tamposi Water Supply Reserve Conservation Land on Sunday, Jan. 20 at 1 p.m. Depending upon conditions, it will be a walk or snowshoe excursion.

Highlights will include a visit to the largest blackgum (tupelo) tree in Strafford County, and a look at the large Creek Pond marsh, which comprises much of the headwaters of the Oyster River.

The Samuel A. Tamposi Water Supply Reserve consists of 1,435.6 acres in the southeast corner of Barrington and is town owned property with extensive wetlands and trails throughout it. This area has the distinction of holding the headwaters of the Oyster and Bellamy rivers and has all kinds of wildlife existing on it. In addition, it is home to the Atlantic white cedar swamps, rare in this area.

Several surrounding communities obtain a portion of their drinking water from the rivers originating on this land.

The Town of Barrington placed the property into a conservation easement in 2001. Acquisition was made possible as a result of a donation from the Tamposi Corporation and a grant from the NH Department of Environmental Services ”Water Supply Protection Program”.

The land is forever protected from development by a conservation easement held by The Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests.